|
Working with pot heads, should I change jobs?
| kmb2006 |
Working with pot heads
Stan asked me to post
this if I had time today.
He's having a hard time at work. He works as a mechanic at a
small service station. Given his unstable work history, it was
the best thing he could find on short notice.
He is a naturally large man. In the past couple months since he
got clean, he's gained about 60 pounds, up to almost 300. It's
causing him a lot of pain in his hips, back, and legs,
especially since his job is so physical and requires him to be
on his feet with his arms extended over his head most of the
day.
So here's the dilemma...
The people he works with are all potheads, his boss included.
They talk about it all the time. They know he's a recovering
addict. Weed is first drug of choice - he's been smoking since
he was a kid - and it's his obsession, it's what he struggles
with the most. It's what he does in his using dreams. He knows
it's not something he could ever do in moderation and is a very
slippery slope back to meth, too. Weed is also what he's always
used to control pain.
He comes home hurting and very cranky. Says he wishes he could
just smoke a blunt like the other guys do. He knows he can't,
but is honest about being very jealous and very tempted.
Now he's seriously considering looking for a different job, but
that just adds more instability to his already shaky work
record. He says he'd feel safer at a company that does drug
tests for injuries or random testing, but that he has to get
used to this because he's going to find it everywhere.
He's really just looking for opinions from other recovering
addicts.
What would YOU do in this situation?
If you had been using illegal drugs for physical pain
management, what helped you control pain after you quit?
Thanks for your help |
| Replies... |
| RIP |
Re: Working with pot heads
Good Morning,
I would first try some ibuprofen or the like .
if this does not help i would go to the doctor. Tell the doctor
he is an addict and that if he can get some meds for pain relief
that are non-narcotic, Tordol is a good one.
if this does not help he could get some pain pills prescribed
and you as his partner should administer these pills to him.
Hope this helps |
luve
piphany |
Re: Working with pot heads
Well, I'd pray for that
new job to come and in the mean time, Nuerotnin (non-narcotic)
has helped a few addict friends with severe joint pain from
injury and arthritis. Seemed to help immensely along with
Ibuprofen and doesn't have many or any side effects.
I'll be praying for the new cleaner workplace for Stan |
forget
suzette |
Re: Working with pot heads
I smoked since I was a
kid to, it's hard.
.....there's a lot of observations to consider about quitting
reefer.
...the cool dreams the clear head....no "duh"
hangovers.
every time he resists.......give him a dollar, and in a month,
he'll have something BESIDES dope
the pot heads at work have to work on their own evolvement.
.......there's NO WHERE maryjane isn't
he's got to be stubborn with himself.
......or he could smoke and not do speed. some people do. |
danimal
55 |
Re: Working with pot heads
We're
always going to have drugs and alcohol in our face, especially
in the blue collar domain, this is where trigger management
comes in handy.
Weight gain is par for the course, a LOT of weight, smoking pot
is only going to put on MORE weight.
Our "recovery fat" will slowly go away if we're diet conscious
and active, I dropped from #232 down to #210 in the past 6
months, a little less junk food and a little more physical
activity
And who wants to be an air head and stumble around in pot
induced doldrums? We've fought tooth and nail to get
clean...finally!
To hell with the jealousy Stan, you're not missing a damn thing!
Your co-workers are living under a hidden fog, missing out on
*clarity of mind*...and they don't even know it.
The pot is tooo potent nowadays!
The weed IS medicine, and used moderately it has significant
medicinal value, for specific ailments, typically, but not
exclusively for the terminally ill.
I know a number of green card holders who smoke pot for pain and
appetite stimulation rather than consuming drug store chemicals,
the pills were eating their guts up, one of them is considering
giving up the weed as his lungs are hurting from over doing
it....and he's tired of being a dough head!
Another friend with emphysema and tied to an oxygen hose uses it
for its expectorant qualities several times daily [sparingly] so
he can breath.
I smoked the crap since I was a kid too [since 1967], if I had
those years to do over...I'd do them without the weed!
I owe my Teflon brain, acute CRS and emotional retardation to 38
years of pot smoking, in retrospect it took WAAAAY more than it
delivered.
Recent studies reveal over 450 chemicals found in pot smoke,
incl. 8-10 known carcinogens and assorted insecticide residues.
It's not the harmless social denominator we'd like to believe it
is.
Let it go Stan... and consider some other pain management
options that won't fog your head, cause increased weight gain,
leave you lethargic and send you slipping' back toward meth for
a little "bump". |
| kmb2006 |
Re: Working with pot heads
Quote:
every time he resists...
....give him a dollar, and in a month, he'll have something
BESIDES dope
Yeah, like a Lamborghini. |
imlost
inky |
Re: Working with pot heads
my husband is a
mechanic- heavy equipment mechanic in his 40's- and also
overweight.
He doesn't have the flexibility he once had.
His back has hurt for years- now his legs, his hips, his hands-
He too has used pot for "pain" management- but what I see is
that while indeed in physical pain- more often than not it is
for numbing emotional pain.
Not a good answer for him.
He has since gone to alcohol- but again, what I see - I hear
that he complains more about how bad his back hurts when
buzzing.
I see where he has more difficulty in breathing.
and well, I don't need to paint the rest of the picture- but no,
it doesn't work.
Now, here is what does or could.
Stretching- seriously before you start your day, stretch it out.
As we age, I think our muscles become like cotton shirts in the
dryer.
Do you remember in PE having to make like a tree with branches?
Yeah- another trick is to put your arm straight out across your
neck and lightly pull on the upper arm muscle- stretching it and
hold for a bit- then release.
All of this is slow holding movements.
For the legs, push up against a wall- one knee bent, one leg
stretched out- word of warning it hurts BUT you feel better
afterwards. Just as sprint runners do.
Same exercise.
Bend over as far as you can to touch the floor- now it took
forever for me to be able to touch the floor- but do it and
hold.
That stretches the back out.
Feels good.
I know it is hard during the day- but if he would use the time
they are taking for their blunt break to just sit and put his
feet up, huge difference- mega better.
Real relief.
Good shoes- seriously good shoes.
Support socks- yes those old folks socks.
Advil will help with the pain of joints- really well- but no in
my experience it does not work with muscle pain.
A hot shower and let it beat on your back helps.
Now this part you can do-
Massage- the lower back up- massage the legs.
Hubby's back stays so tight that I have to use a furniture wheel
coaster on his most times.
I can take the wheel into the muscles deeper than my hands can
squeeze-
then on weekends when he is behaving - as in coming to bed at a
decent enough time, I can use lotion to really work into the
muscles.
Elevating his feet is a must though for sure- and good shoes.
For the weight- Kristy, start cooking lighter- you know just
putting more 2% milk instead of butter in the macaroni and
cheese- bake instead of fry- and when you do fry, use canola
oil.
Every where that you can make healthier meals, do so.
Fruits instead of cookies-
if you have to have cake, use applesauce instead of the oil.
And make it a habit to go for an evening walk together.
All of this will help - and work well for his issues.
If the pain continues - don't hesitate to see a doctor.
Hubby was prescribed Cymbalta for his chronic pain.
Probably would have worked well but he found out you couldn't
take it AND drink- so it is getting dusty.
We still have it though- if the day comes when he for real is
tired of the same old same old. |
| Loraura |
Re: Working with pot heads
He should go see his
doctor, and then perhaps a pain management specialist, and also
a dietician.
Rarely is anyone healthy at 300 pounds, and that kind of weight
makes bones and joints hurt all the more.
Since he is recovering from meth addiction, I recommend a high
protein, low carb/low sugar diet -- he should get his carbs from
grains and fruit.
He needs the protein for his recovery from meth use. |
| kmb2006 |
Re: Working with pot heads
Thanks
for the replies everyone. I told him the general jist of the
messages and he'll read them tonight.
He's got an appointment with our family doc for next Friday.
That'll be the starting point for referrals out to others.
As for nutrition and weight, we are getting much better with
that. Right now, the problem isn't really quality, it's
quantity. We're eating the right things... he's just eating a
WHOLE LOT of the right things. I'm actually 15 pounds below my
pre-pregnancy weight just having cut out most of the junk food.
He's new to recovery, so I'm sure food is a pacifier right now.
Oh well... baby steps, right?
Loraura - The other day, you posted an eating plan for women on
AM. Do you have something equivalent for men you could point me
to? Your plan was nice because it didn't seem to about calories
as much as it seemed to be about portion size and the timing of
certain foods. |
| scorpio |
Re: Working with pot heads
First
off, yes, if I were your husband, I would look for a new job.
Next, there are lots of alternatives to pain management besides
pain medication. Ask your doctor, or chiropractor, about pain
management programs. |
| Loraura |
Re: Working with pot heads
Quote:
Loraura - The other day, you posted
an eating plan for women on AM. Do you have something
equivalent for men you could point me to? Your plan was nice
because it didn't seem to about calories as much as it
seemed to be about portion size and the timing of certain
foods.
MEN’S PORTION SIZES
Protein 6 ounces (beef & pork 5 oz.) or 3 eggs
Starch/grain 1 cup ( z for potato)
Vegetable 1 cup
Fruit 6 ounces (include varying fruits, not just bananas and
grapes, which have a high glycemic index.)
Dairy 1 cup (watch the yogurt for too much sugar! It should be
equivalent to 1c of skim or 2% milk)
Cottage Cheese 1/2 cup
Oil 2 tablespoons
Note: Men may need to increase portion sizes to avoid rapid
weight loss. Maintain balance between carbohydrate and protein
when increasing portions.
For others interested, here's the women's portion sizes, and the
daily allowances for men and women:
WOMEN’S PORTION SIZES
Protein 4 ounces, 2 eggs
Starch/grain 1 cup ( z for potato)
Vegetable 1 cup
Fruit 6 ounces (include varying fruits, not just bananas and
grapes, which have a high glycemic index.)
Dairy 1 cup (watch the yogurt for too much sugar! It should be
equivalent to 1c of skim or 2% milk)
Cottage Cheese 1/2 cup
Oil 1 tablespoon
DAILY PORTIONS
Breakfast
1 fruit
1 protein
1 dairy
1 grain
Lunch/Dinner
1 protein
1 raw vegetable
1 cooked vegetable
1 starch or grain
Before Bed
1 fruit
1 dairy
Daily
1 fat
Daily Options
Spice 1 tablespoon
Condiments 1 ounce
Sweeteners 6 servings
Broth 1 cup
ABSTAIN FROM ALL HIGH FAT FOODS INCLUDING: Fried food, butter,
sour cream, cream, cream cheese, dairy products over 2% fat,
nuts, seeds. (I would make exceptions for him for nuts and seeds
because they contain the precursors to dopamine, which he needs
as a recovering meth addict.)
Consult with your physician before using this or any other food
plan. |
Back to Crystal Meth & Methamphetamine Questions, Answers & Advice
|
